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Wheat germ extract

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Common Names

For Patients & Caregivers

How It Works

Fermented wheat germ was shown to improve quality of life in cancer patients. More studies are needed.

Fermented wheat germ extract (WGE) was developed by Mate Hidvegi, a Hungarian chemist, in the 1990s. It should not be confused with wheat germ oil. WGE is used as a dietary supplement by cancer patients in Hungary to improve quality of life. Laboratory studies show that WGE may have anticancer properties. Results from some clinical trials suggest WGE improves quality of life, but cancer patients should consult their physicians before taking WGE.

Purported Uses

Cancer treatment
WGE was shown to improve quality of life in cancer patients. More data are needed to establish its use.

Autoimmune disorders
Animal studies show that WGE is beneficial, but human data are lacking.

Immunostimulation
Data from test tube and observation studies show that WGE can regulate the immune system.

Do Not Take If

You are pregnant or nursing.

You had an organ or tissue transplant.

You have bleeding, ulcers of the stomach and intestine, or severe absorption problems.

You have sensitivity to gluten.

You are fructose intolerant.

You are having barium X-ray contrast tests. Discontinue 2 days before and after test.

Side Effects

Mild and infrequent side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Wheat germ extract may have estrogen receptor activity. Patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should consult with a physician before using WGE.

For Healthcare Professionals

Brand Name

Avemar, Avé, AvéULTRA, AWGE, OncoMAR

Clinical Summary

Fermented wheat germ extract (WGE) was developed in the 1990s by Hungarian chemist Mate Hidvegi. It should not be confused with wheat germ oil. WGE is used as a dietary supplement by cancer patients in Hungary to improve quality of life (QoL). Results from in vitro studies show that WGE has anticancer (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(18)(19), antimetastatic (6)(20), and immunomodulatory (2)(7) effects. Although it appears to increase estrogen receptor (ER) activity, WGE enhanced efficacy of tamoxifen, an ER antagonist, in ER+ breast cancer cells (8) as well as cisplatin in ovarian cancer cell lines (5). Animal models suggest WGE can reduce cardiovascular symptoms due to chronic hypertension, diabetes, and obesity (9), mitigate symptoms associated with lupus (10), and that its antitumor effect is comparable to other endocrine treatments (11).

Data from pilot studies indicate a beneficial role for WGE in patients with colorectal cancer (12) and in reducing treatment-associated febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients (13). It also prolonged survival of patients with melanoma when used with chemotherapy (14)(15). However, these effects must be confirmed by large-scale, well-designed clinical trials. Because it potentiates estrogen receptor activity, patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should use WGE with caution.